Desk-partition combination



March 27, 1962 F. CURATOLO DESK-PARTITION COMBINATION Filed Feb. 3, 1959FIG. 4

INVENTOR FRANK CURATOLO 7 W/ v ATTORNEY United States Patent ce3,027,214 Patented Mar. 27, 1962 3,d27,214 DESK-PARTHTEON CUMBliNATiONFrank Curatolo, Brooklyn, N.Y., assignor to Curtis @tiice Partition lne,Brooklyn, N.Y., a corporation of New York Filed Feb. 3, 1959, Ser. No.7%,953 Claims. (Cl. 312-1404) The present invention relates to a noveland improved desk-partition assembly, incorporating built-in featuresenabling partition walls to be erected along one or more sides of thedesk top.

Office space accommodating a large number of desks is frequentlysubdivided by suitable partition walls, for example, to afford a measureof privacy to the office workers. In some cases, the partitions may beformed, at least in part, by panels supported by the desks (or tables)themselves, as distinguished from Wall panels resting on the floor, forexample. Such desk-supported panels are advantageous in some cases, butconventional equipment may present certain problems in connection withthe rearrangement of the ofiice space. That is, it may be necessary ordesirable, from time to time, to arrange the office furniture andpartitioning to a more practical or efiicient configuration, and presentequipment has limtations rendering it difiicult and time-consuming toeffect substantial rearrangement.

In accordance with the present invention, an improved desk (or table)assembly is provided, which incorporates novel, retractable partitionsupports, enabling panels to be supported selectively along one or moresides of the desk top. To this end, the new desk includes a plurality ofsupporting posts, retractably mounted at the corners of the desk top.When the posts are retracted, they advantageously form part of the desktop surface, but when the posts are extended, one or more panels, suchas glass plates, may be supported vertically thereby, to form apartition wall.

As one of the specific features of the invention, the retractablesupporting posts are received telescopically in hollow legs of the desk.Advantageously, the posts, as well as the legs, are formed of extrudedalunr'num, and the tops of the posts are provided with caps adapted tobe received in recesses in the desk top to complete the surface of thetop. In this form of the invention, the posts advantageously are urgedupward, at least through a limited distance, by springs received in thehollow desk legs. The posts are secured in either extended or fullyretracted positions by fastening means, such as set screws and, when thefastening means are manipulated to release a fully retracted post, thepost springs up a sufficient distance to enable it to be grippedconveniently by the hands.

For a better understanding of the foregoing and other features of theinvention, reference should be made to the following detaileddescription and to the accompanying drawing, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a desk-partition combinationincorporating the features of the invention; and

FIGS. 24 are enlarged, fragmentary cross-sectional views taken generallyalong lines 22, 3- t and 44, respectively, of FIG. 1.

Referring now to the drawing, the reference numeral designatesgenerally, a desk (or table), which is provided with a top 11 supportedby a plurality of legs 1 15. In the illustrated form of the invention,the legs 12-15, which extend from the door to the desk top 11, are setin from the peripheral edges of the top and are secured in fixedrelation thereto by any suitable means.

In accordance with one aspect of the invention, the legs 1215 are ofhollow construction, advantageously of extruded aluminum, and the topsof the legs are open while the botoms are at least effectively closedoff. The open tops of the desk legs abut the lower surface of the top11, and vertical openings 16 are provided in the top, directly above thelegs. The size and shape of the openings i6 advantageously issubstantially the same as the interior of the legs 12-15, as indicatedin FIG. 3.

Received in the desk legs l215, and adapted for telescopic movementtherein, are retractable supporting posts iii-2d. These posts areadvantageously of a rectangular shape and of a size to conform closelyto the interior openings in the legs, so as to be non-rotatable relativeto the legs and to be supported vertically by the legs. In theillustrated form of the invention, the posts 17-410 are of extruded,aluminum construction, generally rectangular in outline, and areprovided with longitudinally extending openings 21, 22 for lightness inweight and economy of material. The posts also are provided with rightangularly related grooves 23, 24 extendirrg longitudinally of the postsand so disposed therein as to face toward other corners of the desk top11. Advantageously, the grooves 23, 24 are provided, at least in theupper portions thereof, with resilient insert means, such as indicatedat 26, 27.

in accordance with a specific aspect of the invention, the efiectivelength of the posts 17-2tl is only slightly less than the effectivelength of the legs 12-45, the thickness of the desk top 11 beingconsidered, for this purpose, as part of the effective length.Accordingly, when the posts 17-2t1 are retracted telescopically in thelegs to a position substantially flush with the desk top, the lower endsof the posts are only slightly above the effective bottoms of the legs,as indicated at A in FIG. 1, for example. In considering the effectivelength of the posts, there is included the thickness of rectangular caps28, which advantageously are secured to the upper ends of the posts byscrews 29. The caps are of a size and shape to fit closely in the desktop openings 16, and are of a material the same as or simulating thedesk top material, so that when the caps 28 are received in the openings16, flush with the upper surface of the top 11, a substantially uniformand uninterrupted working surface is afforded.

When the supporting posts 17- 20 are lowered into the hollow desk legs,to points where the caps 28 lie a short distance above the top 11, thelower ends of the posts engage springs 30 retained in the bottoms of thelegs. In order to retract the posts to flush positions, as indicated inFIG. 4, downward force must be applied to the legs, to compress thesprings 39. To retain the posts in such positions, set screws 31 areprovided in each leg, near the top. The set screws 31 advantageously,although not necessarily, are positioned to be received in one of thegrooves of the post, as indicated in FIGS. 2 and 3.

When all the posts are secured in fully retracted positions, the top ifof the desk is flat and uninterrupted, and the desk is otherwisesubstantially conventional in its outward appearance.

To erect partitions along one or more sides of the desk, two or more ofthe supporting posts are raised to an appropriate height to receivepanels 32, 33 of suitable material, such as glass. The posts are raisedby first loosening the set screws 31, allowing the freed posts to beprojected upward by the springs 30 a distance sufficient to enable theposts to be gripped conveniently by the hands. The spring-projectedposts are then raised to an appropriate height, which may be determinedby means of suitable calibrations, for example, and secured, at leasttemporarily, by the screws 31. Panels 32, 33 are then inserted inopposed, facing grooves in the posts, being held tightly therein by theresilient strips 26, 27.

Panels of rigid material, such as glass may be inserted vertically inthe post grooves, by first removing the screws 29 and caps 28, althoughsome materials may deflect sufiiciently to permit assembly with the capsin place.

If necessary or desirable, the posts may be lowered, after insertion ofthe panels, so that the caps 23 rest on the upper edges of the panels,in the manner shown in FIG. 2. The set screws 31 or other fasteningdevices are then secured, so that the positions of the posts are fixed.

As will readily be apparent, the new desk-partition combination ishighly versatile, permitting partition panels to be erected quickly andeasily along any or all of three sides. And, in this connection, whereappropriate, provision may be made for supporting partitions on any ofthe four sides of the desk, although it is not contemplated that morethan three sides will be partitioned at any one time. Rearrangement ofoflice space is greatly facilitated by the fact that the partitionedsides may be changed at will, with a minimum of time and effort.

Substantial economies are realized, with the new deskpartitioncombination, since a single, standardized design is suitable for a largevariety of applications. In addition, the structure of the new desk isof a generally simplified nature adapted for economical manufacture inquantity.

It should be understood, however, that the specific form of theinvention herein illustrated and described is intended to berepresentative only, as certain changes may be made therein withoutdeparting from the clear teachings of the disclosure. Accordingly,reference should be made to the following appended claims in determiningthe full scope of the invention.

1 claim:

1. A desk-partition combination comprising a desk top, vertical desklegs supporting said top adjacent corner portions thereof, at least twoof said desk legs being of hollow construction, said desk top beingprovided with openings aligned with the hollow legs and of a size andshape generally complementary to the interior of said hollow legs, apanel supporting post retractably received in each of said hollow legsand movable between a retracted position concealed below said desk topand an extended position projected vertically above said desk top, saidpanel supporting posts being of a size and shape generally complementaryto the interiors of said hollow legs and of a length to be receivedsubstantially wholly within said hollow legs when in said retractedpositions, and cooperating locking means on said hollow legs and saidpanel supporting posts, for locking said posts in said extendedpositions, said posts having opposed, facing longitudinal grooves forthe reception and support of a partition panel, portions of said desktop providing a support for the bottom edge of a panel received in saidgrooves, said hollow legs and posts being of such relative lengths thatsubstantial portions of said posts remain within and are supported bysaid hollow legs when said posts are in extended positions, and capsmounted at the upper ends of said panel supporting posts, meansremovably securing said caps to said posts, said caps being of a sizeand shape to be received within said openings in said desk top with thetop surface of said caps and said desk top in flush relation and tosubstantially close off said openings when said posts are in retractedpositions, said caps further serving to close off the upper ends of saidlongitudinal recesses for locking a panel in place when said posts arein extended positions.

2. A desk-partition combination comprising a desk top, vertical desklegs supporting said top adjacent corner portions thereof, at least twoof said desk legs being of hollow construction, said desk top beingprovided with openings aligned with the hollow legs and of a size andshape generally complementary to the interior of said hollow legs, apanel supporting post retractibly received in each of said hollow legs,each post being independently movable relative to another post between aretracted position concealed below said desk top and an extendedposition projected vertically above said desk top, said panel supportingposts being of a size and shape generally complementary to the interiorsof said hollow legs and of a length to be received substantially whollywithin said hollow legs when in said retracted positions, andcooperating locking means on said hollow legs and said panel supportingposts, for locking said posts in said extended positions, said postshaving opposed, facing longitudinal grooves for the reception andsupport of a partition panel, portions of said desk top providingsupport for the bottom edge of a panel received in said grooves, saidhollow legs and posts being of such relative lengths that substantialportions of said posts remain within and are supported by said hollowlegs when said posts are in extended positions, and caps mounted at theupper end of said panel supporting posts, said caps being of a size andshape to substantially close off said openings when said posts are inretracted poitions, said caps further serving to close off the upperends of said longitudinal recesses for locking a panel in place whensaid posts are in extended positions.

3. The desk partition combination of claim 2 Wherein said caps arereceived within said openings in said desk top with the top surfaces ofsaid caps and said desk top in flush relation when said posts are inretracted positions.

4. A desk-partition combination comprising a desk top, vertical desklegs supporting said top adjacent corner portions thereof, at least twoof said desk legs being of hollow construction, said desktop beingprovided with openings aligned with the hollow legs and of a size andshape generally complementary to the interior of said hollow legs, apanel supporting post retractibly received in each of said hollow legsand movable between a re tracted position concealed below said desk topand an extended position projected vertically above said desk top, saidpanel supporting posts being of a size and shape generally complementaryto the interiors of said hollow legs and of a length to be receivedsubstantially wholly within said hollow legs when in said retractedpositions, and cooperating locking means on said hollow legs and saidpanel supporting posts for locking said posts in said extendedpositions, said posts having opposed, facing longitudinal grooves forthe reception and support of a partition panel, intermediate flatsurface portions of said desk top between said grooves providing supportfor the bottom edge of said panel when received in said grooves, saidhollow legs and posts being of such relative length that substantialportions of said posts remain within and are supported by said hollowlegs when said posts are in extended positions.

5. The desk-partition combination of claim 4, in which spring means arereceived in the bottoms of said hollow legs, and the relative lengths ofsaid spring means, hollow legs and panel supporting posts are such thatsaid springs are compressed upon movement of said posts to retractedpositions.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,697,685 Grant Jan. 1, 1929 1,916,894 Rix July 4, 1933 1,992,903Potashnik Feb. 26, 1935 2,266,268 Robinson Dec. 16, 1941 2,357,015Mestel Aug. 29, 1944 2,694,614 Dent Nov. 16, 1954 FOREIGN PATENTS410,940 Germany Dec. 23, 1922

